NDDC: Senate ad-hoc investigator presents update on alleged corruption

By Joseph Nwoye 

The Senate ad-hoc committee investigating the N40 billion corruption allegation against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has presented an update on the matter to senators.

The Senate and the House of Representatives are probing an allegation that the Interim Management Committee of the NDDC squandered N40 billion within three months.

The Senate committee chairman, Olubunmi Adetunmbi, during plenary on Tuesday, said the committee’s work had been slowed down by the coronavirus pandemic.

The proceedings of the plenary are published in a series of tweets by the Senate (@NGRSenate).

Mr Adetunmbi said his committee has just started receiving responses from those they sent invitation letters to.

Based on Mr Adetunmbi’s request, the Senate extended the committee’s tenure for four weeks.

“On behalf of my colleagues here, I want to wish you a successful exercise,” the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, said to the committee. “I will urge you to be focused on the assignment.

“This investigation has generated a lot of attention and side attractions, but we must not listen to all those things people are saying,” Mr Lawan added.

The NDDC management had said that the Senate investigation was instigated by people who want to scuttle the planned forensic audit of the commission.

The NDDC, backed by its supervising minister, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, accused the Senate of corruption and undue interference in the running of the commission.